Comments on: To Pay or Not to Pay? That is the Question.

By: brentabell

brentabell — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 18:58:26 +0000

The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that what works for one author doesn’t guarantee success for another author. I’ve been writing seriously for two years and I’ve gotten tons of advise from all the other authors I’ve met. Until I know what will and won’t work, trial and error it is! Once I have some more things out, I’m sure I’ll experiment with free promotions. I’ll have to see how it goes.

By: A.M. Harte

A.M. Harte — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 18:39:37 +0000

For me it’s always been dependent on the project. From the start, I knew certain projects (eg Above Ground) were meant to be serialised online, for free. Other projects (eg Hungry For You), I knew I would sell from the start.

I certainly believe I’ve benefitted greatly from giving away stories for free — it’s the readers of my free work who have been the loudest promoters of my paid-for work.

But each to his own, as you say!

By: brentabell

brentabell — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 14:38:02 +0000

I felt the same way. At some point the anthologies run their course and people are looking at you saying, “Is that it?”. This is the lesson I learned from Armand Rosamilia as we prepare my debut novella. He told me that the short stuff is best used as a marketing tool for the bigger stuff. Since then, I’ve focused largely on a few novellas and a novel. I’ll still write short works, but they aren’t my primary focus any more.

By: voelker58

voelker58 — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 03:05:58 +0000

I’m right there with you. After a dozen or so “for the love” publications, and a few for charity, I am at the point now where I am choosing to challenge myself by only submitting to professional paying markets.
My mid range goal is to accumulate enough pro credits to join the Horror Writers’ Association. I feel like that is a good step in the journey from writer to author.
The free publications can only give you so much juice before its time to step up to the big leagues.